Implementation of the ISO 9001: from QMS to business model

The ISO 9001 quality management systems standard is widely accepted around the world. This is the standard that is also widely acquired by companies in Slovenia, where the number of certificates per million inhabitants can be compared with France, Canada, Germany or Finland. Motivation for the introduction of this standard differs considerably and is most often connected with demands, requested by customers in supply chains. Companies that implemented the standard keep asking the question whether it was worth it to maintain the quality system and what added value it brought. Based on the empirical analysis, this contribution proves that positive effects can be noticed in different business activities stemming from the implemented quality system. In addition, the research confirms that all advantages are strongly connected with the sufficient positive energy of employees or with the satisfactory level of maturity of the quality system.

Empirical research has been done on the basis of structured questionnaires gathered from 212 responses of Slovenian companies that had already acquired the ISO 9001 quality standard certificate by 2002. The questionnaires were sent via mail and supported by telephone calls and personal contacts in order to get the best responses possible. The results of the analysis have been compared with numerous research activities and contributions written by authors who all write in favor of quality systems.

The results of discussed research activities reveal a positive understanding and use of ISO 9001 standard as an important tool for managing companies. Still, an important question remains unanswered in many companies: how can they keep top management involved in ISO 9001?

Companies without an implemented quality system as well as enterprises with an existing quality system can use the research results in their decisions regarding further activities, through which they intend to implement quality systems in order to ensure continuous improvement of their business activities in the direction of TQM business model.